2022 Zenith Project by SaraT

1.

Hunting With Ghosts

By Sara Twiggs

1

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY A pair of mid-20 somethings are sat on a couch. One, JACKIE, seems excited. Next to her is ELI, who doesn't seem quite as interested, but is nonetheless happy to be there.

JACKIE Are we rolling?

The camera shakes slightly as the cameraman, DAMIAN, nods.

Yep. Sweet.

DAMIAN (O.C.) JACKIE

Jackie clasps her hands together and addresses the camera.

JACKIE Recently, there have been strange going ons in my house.

B-roll of lights flashing in the hallway, doors swinging shut, a glass sliding across a table, all as Jackie describes it.

JACKIE (V.O.) Lights flickering. Doors closing on their own. You put something down only to find it's moved when you check again.

Back to Jackie and Eli on the couch.

JACKIE And that can all mean only one thingELI That my dear, dear friend is finally starting to lose it.

Jackie rolls her eyes but is still smiling.

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2.

JACKIE A ghost. My name is Jackie. I'm an expert in ghosts and ghost hunting technology. I'll be leading an investigation. This is Hunting for Ghosts.

Eli starts to say something, but Jackie holds a finger up to stop him.

JACKIE Don't comment on the name. It's still a workin progress.

ELI I'm Eli. I'm here cause someone's gotta keep her ego in check.

Jackie elbows him.

DAMIAN (O.C.) I'm Damian. I'll mostly be behind the camera, so you probably won't be seeing too much of meJACKIE Ah, come on, we know that's just an excuse for being camera-shy. Here.

Jackie stands up and takes the camera from Damian. She turns it around to show him. He looks down in embarrassment.

JACKIE (O.C.) See? Damian!

Damian grumbles as he takes the camera back.

DAMIAN Eli, can you edit that out?

ELI Nah, you'll probably be the closest thing to a ghost we find.

DAMIAN (O.C.) (muttering, semiincoherent) -can't go two minutes withoutJACKIE Hey, don't give up so soon. You haven't even seen the basement yet.

3.

2

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

2

Jackie is leaning back in a chair in the living room for her talking head interview. She has an air of cool confidence.

JACKIE So, yeah, I'm Jackie. I'm kinda leading this operation. This whole thing was actually my idea in the first place. I got everyone together, made all the schedules, got all the equipment, so I'm kinda like the director slash producer.

It's kind of like my baby.

2A

EXT. FOREST - NIGHT

2A

Jackie treks through the woods. She wears a large backpack full of ghost hunting equipment and has a meter of some sorts in her hand.

JACKIE (V.O.) (overly confident) I've done ghost hunting before. I've got all the equipment. I kind of an expert in the paranormal.

Something rustles ahead Jackie. She yelps and jumps. A raccoon crawls out of the bushes. Jackie sighs.

JACKIE Just a raccoon.

She tries to walk past it, but it hisses and charges her.

2B

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

2B

JACKIE So yeah, I'm gonna be the one running things around here.

3

INT. HALLWAY - DAY Jackie is leading the crew down the hallway. She is facing backwards, talking to the camera.

JACKIE I've lived in this house for over five years, and there have always been strange little things happening. But lately, it's been

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getting worse. It's been really weird.

ELI You're not very good at this spooky narration thing, are you?

Jackie for the first time seems properly irritated by Eli's remark.

JACKIE I'm great at this. I'm going to be great at this. Now shut up.

From a room branching off of the hallway, AVERY, Jackie's girlfriend calls out.

AVERY (O.S.) Jackie, are you bullying your friends again?

JACKIE (indignant) No, I'm getting bullied.

Avery walks out of the rooms and leans against the doorframe.

She glances at the camera.

AVERY Finally shooting your documentary?

JACKIE Yep. Dragged Damian and Eli into helping me.

Avery chuckles lightly.

4

INT. KITCHEN - DAY Avery is at the kitchen counter for her talking head. She's preparing a meal, cutting up vegetables on a cutting board.

AVERY I'm Avery, Jackie's girlfriend. You know, I'm glad she's doing this. She can get a bit... intense if she's left to her own devices. Of course, she can get a little intense even when she's busy, but you know. I think it helps.

DAMIAN (O.C.) Could you elaborate on that?

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5.

Avery side eyes the camera and smiles awkwardly.

AVERY I mean, she has a bad habit of taking things too seriously. But I think she'll be okay. I hope she'll be okay.

5

INT. HALLWAY - DAY

5

JACKIE I thought I'd start off with a little tour. Get everyone familiar with it before we break out the equipment.

AVERY So you're gonna get pretty intense with it, huh?

JACKIE Yep. I'm pulling out all the stops for this film.

AVERY Well I'm sure it'll be life changing. Just don't work them too hard.

JACKIE I'm the director. That's for me to decide.

ELI Save us now.

5A

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY Eli talking head.

ELI Jackie's always been really into ghosts and stuff. I don't really get it, but she needed someone to edit this thing together when we're done filming. She asked if I could help out with the actual investigation. I think she likes having a skeptic around. I'm not gonna turn down an opportunity to watch this go wrong.

His eyes widen.

5A

6.

ELI Just don't tell her I said that.

DAMIAN (O.C.) I'm totally telling her that.

6

INT. BASEMENT - DAY

6

Jackie and Eli walk down the steep stairs to the basement. It is dark, dusty, dingy. Boxes line the walls, and typical basement junk clutters the ground, leaving only a thin path for the crew to navigate. Between watching her steps, Jackie looks back to the camera.

JACKIE This house was built almost two hundred years ago. All kinds of stories attached to it. Some pretty dark rumors.

ELI Would you like to explain to them why you know that?

JACKIE Used it to negotiate a lower rent with the landlord. I'm not ashamed of that.

DAMIAN (O.C.) What kind of things did you find?

Jackie grins maliciously.

JACKIE The land this house was built on was the site of several battles during the Civil War. All of them ended in Massacre. Bloodshed like that is gonna leave behind some restless souls.

Damian misses a step and the camera shudders.

7

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY Damian is sitting on the couch. His overall posture and body language would suggest that if anyone was looking directly at him, he would begin to squirm. His eyes are darting and he keeps shifting back and forth. A single noise and this dude will bolt.

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7.

DAMIAN I guess I haven't done one of these yet, huh?

He laughs uncomfortably and rubs the back of his neck.

DAMIAN I'm not really sure why I'm here to be honest. I'm a friend of Jackie's and she needed someone who knew how to work a camera. I'm, uh, not too big a fan of ghosts. That stuff kinda freaks me out. There was one time my brother let me stay up with him to watch this one show on the Syfy channel with him.

As he begins to ramble, his eyes light up and he seems more open.

DAMIAN (CONT'D) It was something about trying to debunk viral videos and most of them time they'd prove they were fake, but sometimes they couldn't and you know that part was probably faked too, like just to keep ratings up, but I was like ten and I couldn't sleep for days afterwards. I just kept thinking about something coming into my room in the middle of the night andDamian is but off by Jackie calling from another room.

JACKIE (O.S.) Hey Damian! Have you done your talking head yet?

He leans back over the couch and calls back to her.

DAMIAN Uh, kinda in the middle of it right now.

JACKIE (O.S.) Just remember to keep it brief. Try not to ramble.

He winces when she mentions rambling. He turns back to the camera. When he starts talking again, he seems just as closed off as when he started.

DAMIAN

8.

So, yeah. I'm the cameraman.

8

INT. BASEMENT - DAY Damian rights the camera.

JACKIE Watch where you're going dude. That camera's expensive.

DAMIAN (O.C.) What else have you heard?

JACKIE Well, the rest is just rumors.

Previous owners of this house have reported mysterious figures, strange sounds at night, a couple of injuries. The landlord tried real hard not to let that last one out.

Now at the bottom of the stair, Jackie begins clearing things away to make space for the crew.

ELI And what exactly are we doing here?

JACKIE It's a basement. That's where all the creepiest stuff happens.

Damian points the camera down to show a large space Jackie has cleared out.

JACKIE This is where we'll be doing the most investigating. Maybe hold a seance.

DAMIAN (O.C.) I didn't sign up for that.

ELI You signed up for ghost hunting.

What did you think would happen?

Besides, I didn't think you believed in that stuff.

DAMIAN (O.C.) I don't, but that doesn't meanwait, what's that?

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9.

The camera zooms to a corner of the room where a dark figure stands. It seems to turn to face the camera. Before Jackie and Eli can look, it vanishes.

JACKIE What? Where?

DAMIAN (O.C.) Over there. It was just there. Some shape, it looked like a person.

Jackie walks over to the corner and pulls out an old coat rack. Jackie looks back to the camera, clearly annoyed.

JACKIE You mean this?

DAMIAN (O.C.) No! It disappeared, but it was right there, I swear!

ELI No, don't worry Damian, I believe you and besides - What's that?!

Eli points to a spot on the ground behind the camera. Damian gasps as the camera quickly turns. It focuses on Damian's shadow. Eli bursts out laughing.

DAMIAN (O.C.) It's not funny.

JACKIE Yeah, it's not. Eli, cut it out. And Damian, you've gotta pull it together. You can't be jumping out of your skin at every weird shape.

This is serious you guys. Start acting like it.

ELI Chill out dude. It was just a joke.

DAMIAN (O.C.) Wasn't a very good one.

JACKIE Whatever. We'll come back later.

Just cut for now.

CUT TO:

10.

9

INT. BASEMENT - DAY

9

A pair of pale hands fidgets with the camera, partially blocking it's view. They eventually move away to reveal a GHOST sitting before the camera. He appears to be about the same age as the crew, but his clothes look much older. He clears his throat.

GHOST Hello - is that a good start? I never know how to start these things. My name is, well, uh, it's been quite a while so I can't exactly recall. I believe it started with a T? Maybe and M? The ghost looks lost in thought for a moment before shaking his head.

GHOST (CONT'D) But that's besides the point. I've been haunting this house for, what?

Two hundred and fifty years now?

The ghost trails off.

GHOST Has it really been that long? Time is so hard to keep track of when you're... No. It's not important.

250 years is a long time, and it can get a little lonely. But I've kept busy. Not that anyone has been polite enough to acknowledge it.

10

INT. KITCHEN - MORNING A middle aged MAN is at the kitchen table, patting his pockets.

MAN Where did I leave them last?

A set of keys are at the other end of the table.

The ghost stands in a corner of the room and grins at the camera. The keys begin to slide towards him.

MAN There they are!

He takes the keys and rushes out of the room. The ghost looks directly into the camera.

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11.

11

INT. BASEMENT - AFTERNOON

11

A young woman is in the basement, sorting through boxes.

She's talking on the phone.

WOMAN Yeah, the move went well. It's taking a little while to get settled, but I think we'llWhile she blathers on, the ghost is a the top of the stairs, and swings the door shut loudly. The woman lets out a gasp.

WOMAN Sorry about that. There's a pretty bad draft in here. Haven't been sleeping well, so I'm a little jumpy. If I stay up any longer I might starting thinking I see a ghost!

The ghost stares directly into the camera.

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INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

12

An OLD WOMAN sits on the couch. She has thick glasses and a book in her lap. The ghost stands behind her, eyes wide, face grim.

GHOST (Bellowing) You do not belong here. Get out while you still can. Get out!

The old woman looks over her shoulder at the ghost.

OLD WOMAN Finally come to visit your grandma?

It's so nice to see you again.

The ghost looks directly into the camera.

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INT. BASEMENT - DAY

13

The ghost looks very weary.

GHOST 250 years is a very long time. So it's nice to finally have someone who acknowledges my efforts.

CUT TO:

12.

14

INT. KITCHEN - EVENING

14

Jackie is alone in her kitchen, humming to herself as she pulls a pan out of a cabinet. She is about to put it on the stove when the lights flick off. She yelps and whips around, brandishing the pan for defense.

JACKIE Who's there? Show yourself!

The lights turn back on. She drops the pan and runs out of the kitchen. The pan is left clattering on the tile floor.

15

INT. BASEMENT - DAY

15

The ghost is nodding to himself.

GHOST And now that I've finally found someone who really appreciates my work, I am going to make her life a living hell.

The ghost smiles distantly as if daydreaming. The basement door opens. The ghost turns his head to the door, then back to the camera.

GHOST Well, time to go.

The ghost vanishes as Jackie runs down the stairs. She looks irritated. She reaches the camera, picks it up, and calls over her shoulder.

JACKIE (exasperated) Damian, you forgot the camera down here!

She inspects it a little closer.

JACKIE You even left it running! The card's gonna fill up.

She presses a button on the back of the camera and the video stops.

16

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT Jackie and Eli are sitting on the ground next to Jackie's bed. The lights are off and the camera has a night vision

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lens on. Next to Jackie is a large case open to reveal various meters and recorders.

JACKIE (Whispering) We'll be starting off our hunt with something easy. The bedroom. But just because it's easy doesn't mean it'll be boring. Eli, can you set everything up while I explain?

Eli sighs but takes the equipment anyway. He fiddles with it but doesn't seem to be entirely sure what he's doing.

JACKIE There are stories about previous homeowners waking up in the middle of the night to find scratches along their arms and chests. I haven't experienced that yet, but sometimes I'm woken up by the feeling of being watched. And there's been no shortage of strange noises. So tonight we'll be investigating this room for any paranormal activity.

Then we'll be staying the night.

Eli glances judgmentally at her when she mentions sleeping over.

JACKIE We'll record sound and video while we sleep to catch anything out of the ordinary.

Jackie takes one of the meters from Eli and holds it up to the camera. It's a rectangular black box, with a colorful reader ranging from green to read, and a large antenna sticking out of the top.

CUT TO: 17

INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT The ghost sits in front of the camera, looking quite smug.

GHOST You know, these ghost hunter types are all the same. I may not have dealt with them myself but I've heard all the stories from other ghosts. The same tactics, the same details, and all the same equipment.

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Don't even get me started on the equipment. All bs. Like theCUT TO: 18

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

18

Jackie is still holding the EMF reader up to the camera.

JACKIE EMF reader. This bad boy picks up on electromagnetic fields.

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INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT

19

The ghost throws up his hands and rolls his eyes.

GHOST "Electromagnetic fields." Use real words.

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INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

20

JACKIE (CONT'D) Ghosts have a unique electrical charge to them. If there's a ghost in the room with us, thing thing will go nuts.

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INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT

21

GHOST (CONT'D) Like, do I look like a microwave?

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INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT Jackie turns the EMF reader on and it lets out a low buzz.

JACKIE That's what it sounds like when there's nothing aroundShe moves it closer to the camera.

JACKIE -aaand that's what it sounds like when it picks something up. Right now it's getting the electric charge

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from the camera. Come on, let's go try it out.

She beckons to the camera as she stands up. Eli stays seated.

JACKIE Dude. Come on.

ELI I think I'm good. You don't need three people to walk around a room waiting for something to buzz. I'll be right here when you need me.

Fine.

JACKIE

The camera follows Jackie as she points the EMF reader at various spots in the room. She first circles it around the bed, pointing the reader on top, then under it. The meter does not react. Jackie begins to trace the edges of the walls. It begins to buzz slightly louder and the camera zooms in on the reader. Jackie's breath hitches. It peaks when they pass by an electrical outlet.

ELI (O.C.) What thrilling action am I missing?

The camera turns back to Eli. He's sitting on the ground, looking at his phone.

JACKIE You're missing out on the virtue of patience.

Ah. Pity.

ELI (O.C.)

As Jackie passes by a closet, the meter starts to buzz.

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INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT

23

GHOST There's a trick to dealing with ghost hunters. How to really drive them mad.

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INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT Jackie points the meter directly at the closet and it begins to buzz louder.

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ELI (O.C.) Found another power outlet?

Jackie looks confused.

JACKIE No. There's nothing in there that should set it off...

GHOST (V.O.) Most of these types either don't believe or want to believe. Those that don't believe are easy enough.

Do something that can't be explained and they've soiled their pants.

She opens the door and begins investigating. Shuffling is heard from off camera as Eli gets up to join her.

GHOST (V.O.) But for those that want to believe, they're a lot more fun. The trick is to get their hopes up. Make them think they've found something.

Jackie follows the meter to a jacket tossed on the ground.

Damian gasps as she tears it away.

GHOST (V.O.) And then take it all away Underneath the jacket is a cellphone.

Eli looks back to the camera.

ELI (Deadpan) Terrifying.

Jackie looks at the object in confusion.

JACKIE I don't get it. I could've sworn that wasn't there before.

ELI (mocking) It's okay. Maybe a ghost put it there.

Jackie throws the EMF reader to the ground in frustration.

17.

25

INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT

25

The ghost leans back in his chair and shrugs.

GHOST What can I say? I'm good at my job.

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INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

26

Jackie looks irritated at their failure, but not as much as Eli. ELI Got anything else for us? A scary hairdryer? A spooooky toothbrush?

Maybe a bone-chilling lightbulb?

Jackie just glares at him.

DAMIAN (O.C.) (uncertain) Eli, maybe you should lay off it.

Eli's eyes flick to the camera, then away.

Whatever.

ELI

DAMIAN (O.C.) Are we still sleeping over tonight.

Jackie sighs. She straightens herself and picks the EMF reader.

JACKIE (defeated) No. It's fine. I don't wanna make Avery sleep on the couch for nothing. We can... we can save that for the basement. It'll be fine.

Everything is fine.

DAMIAN (O.C.) (slightly surprised) Oh. Okay.

The camera cuts.

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INT. BASEMENT - DAY Talking head for ghost. He sits in a swiveling chair, spinning around, not addressing anyone in particular. He is

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fidgeting with a baseball.

GHOST People always ask me - well, people don't really talk to me much anymore, but if they did they'd ask me why ghosts haunt. And the truth is I don't know. For me at least, it's more a legacy I carry. Maybe that's what's true for the rest of them. We're all just doing it cause that's what ghosts are supposed to do.

He stops spinning and sets down the baseball. He turns to face the camera.

GHOST You know, when I first died, I didn't want to follow in the footsteps of ghosts before. I didn't want to haunt, to rattle chains in the night. I just wanted to talk to people.

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INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT A person lies in bed, sleeping. The ghost appears at the foot of the bed, looking down at the person. He speaks in a raspy voice.

Hello?

GHOST

The person jolts awake, and stares up at the ghost.

GHOST Would you like toThe ghost is interrupted as the person starts screaming.

GHOST Please I just wantThe person grabs a book off the bedside table and chucks it at the ghost. The book flies right through him. They fall silent. The ghost puts his hands on his hips and shakes his head.

GHOST I know this may be a little unsettling but you don't need to resort to violence.

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The person resumes their screaming and frantically throws more ammo from the nightstand.

29

INT. BASEMENT - DAY

29

The ghost shudders at the memory.

GHOST It... did not go very well. So I figured I might as well go with the crowd and take up scaring. Granted, I haven't been very successful. But my latest victim seems very promising.

29C

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

29C

Talking head of Jackie.

JACKIE So, the first day didn't quite go as planned. It's okay. These things happen. It'll just... add to the drama when things start picking up.

Everything's going to be okay. I just want to talk it out with everyone and move on to the next step. Everything's going to be fine!

29A

INT. KITCHEN - EVENING Everyone is gathered at the table eating dinner, except for Jackie who's busy setting up the camera. When it's to her liking, she stands at the head of the table to address everyone. Avery looks nervously at the camera.

AVERY Do we really have to record this?

We're just eating dinner. Nothing too interesting's going to happen.

JACKIE We need something in between the action. You know, help out with the pacing. Besides, these things are just as much about the hunters as the ghosts. We need to get everyone's character.

ELI (dryly)

29A

20.

I can give you plenty of character if you want.

JACKIE I wanted to check in with everyone about last night and see where we're going with this tonight.

DAMIAN Wait, tonight?

JACKIE We're doing the basement tonight.

DAMIAN I thought we were just getting broll.

ELI What, did you think we wouldn't show if you told us?

Jackie fidgets, but doesn't say anything.

ELI Come on, Jackie. Don't lose faith in us so quickly.

It's meant as a joke, but no one laughs. Jackie awkwardly continues her address. She chooses her words carefully like she's trying not to scare away a wild deer. The typical "I'm friends with these people but I also do need to manage them."

JACKIE So. Last night. I appreciate you guys being there, but the effort level wasn't quite where I wanted it to be.

Eli leans back in his chair with his arms crossed.

JACKIE I... acknowledge that I may have reacted poorly, but I would like to see you guys taking this a little more seriously.

Avery puts a hand on Jackie's arm.

AVERY Jackie, you can talk to them as friends. They're not employees.

JACKIE

21.

I'm the director. I'm in charge of making sure that everything gets done and gets done the way I want it.

ELI Are you sure that's what a director does?

Jackie looks like she's about to snap. Damian looks up at her with eyes wide in anticipation. Avery clears her throat.

Jackie holds herself back, breathes, and tries again.

JACKIE This project means a lot to me. I just really need this to go well, and I need your help to get there.

Eli and Damian look at each other. Avery watches on with concern.

29D

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

29D

Talking head of Avery.

AVERY Jackie's never been super great at communicating, and she may come across as a little misguided, but I can tell she's trying her best. She really does care about them. I don't think she'd put this project above the needs of her friends.

29E

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

29E

Talking head of Jackie.

JACKIE I am going to get this film done even if I have to physically force everyone to work with me.

29B

INT. HALLWAY - EVENING Jackie is leading Damian to the hallway. She looks frantic.

JACKIE -just turn the camera on.

DAMIAN (O.C.)

29B

22.

It's on, it's on.

JACKIE Come on, quickly.

Jackie rushes down the hall and stops before a closet.

DAMIAN (O.C.) Shouldn't we get Eli? JACKIE There's no time. We've got toJackie throws open the closet door.

JACKIE What? It was right here.

She squeezes into the closet and starts rummaging around.

Damian follows after her and points the camera over her shoulder in an attempt to see what she's doing. The closet seems to be full of nothing but spare sheets and old blankets.

DAMIAN (O.C.) Uh, what are we looking for?

Jackie begins throwing things out of the closet in her search.

JACKIE It was right here.

DAMIAN (O.C.) (exasperated) What was?

Jackie turns around to the camera.

JACKIE I was walking by here when I heard a weird noise. I checked the closet and the walls were covered in mud.

On one of the blankets there was a message written with like sticks and rocks.

DAMIAN (O.C.) What did it say?

Jackie has turned back to the closet and is continuing her search.

JACKIE

23.

Something like "I'm coming for you."

I don't know. Something threatening.

It's not important.

DAMIAN (O.C.) That sounds pretty important.

JACKIE But now I can't find it. I can't find anything. No rocks, no sticks.

There isn't even any dirt anywhere.

I don't get how it could've justoh.

DAMIAN (O.C.) (concerned) Um, would you mind explaining?

Jackie whips back around to the camera.

JACKIE Don't you get it Damian?

No?

DAMIAN (O.C.)

JACKIE This proves that a ghost was here.

It put that message up, and then took it away before I could show you!

DAMIAN (O.C.) And why would it do that?

JACKIE I don't know! Maybe it's messing with me?

DAMIAN (O.C.) (gently) Jackie, I hope you know you sound a little paranoid right now. I don't think this ghost, if there is one, has it out for you in particular.

At the end of the hall, a figure appears. It almost looks like it's grinning.

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INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT The crew is huddled in the basement. In addition to her equipment, Jackie also now has a box full of candles, herbs,

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a ouija board, and the like. Eli and Jackie are caught in the middle of bickering.

JACKIE -You agreed to do this so you really can'tELI -just think that if youDAMIAN (O.C.) Um, guys. We're rolling.

Jackie immediately shuts up and puts on her video persona.

Eli tries to keep going, but whenever he tries to speak she interrupts him by clearing her throat and nodding to the camera. He finally grumbles and falls silent.

JACKIE Basements are one of the spookiest parts of a house. With all the clutter, it's easy to imagine something hiding, watching. Well, something other than a coat rack.

DAMIAN (O.C.) (grumbling) It's still not funny.

JACKIE I figured we'd need something extra scary after last night. If we're going to find something paranormal, it'll be in here. So today, we're going to go all out.

Jackie gestures to the box.

A seance.

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JACKIE

INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT The ghost is leaned back in an old office chair. He's spinning in it.

GHOST Ugh, seances. The oldest trick in the book. And by that I mean the most boring. These people think they can light a candle, chant a few words, and suddenly every ghost in

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the area is at their feet. It's insulting, really.

32

INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT

32

Jackie pulls a candle and a matchbox out. She sets up the candle and strikes the match. But a few seconds after she lights the candles, it's blown out. She furrows her brow in confusion and tries again. It goes out again.

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INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT

33

GHOST (CONT'D) But that doesn't mean I can't have some fun with it.

The ghost grins mischievously.

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INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT Jackie tries several more times to light the candle, each to the same end. Eli eventually takes the matches from her and lights the candle himself. It does not go out.

Jackie lights several more candles - each with no further difficulty - and arranges them. She pulls out the ouija board and places it in the center of the candle arrangement.

The camera lingers for a moment on the light of the candles reflecting on the board. Jackie places the planchette on the center of the board.

JACKIE Come on. Everyone needs to place a finger on it if this is gonna work.

Eli leans forward to put a finger on the planchette, and eventually Damian does too.

DAMIAN (O.C.) And you're sure this is safe.

Jackie grins up at him.

Nope.

JACKIE

Eli elbows her.

JACKIE

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26.

Thought you didn't believe in this stuff anyway.

DAMIAN (O.C.) Yeah, not when it isn't dark out.

But here...

Damian shudders.

DAMIAN (O.C.) I'm not taking any chances.

JACKIE You'll be fine. Are you guys ready?

35

INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT

35

GHOST Ouija boards are almost too easy.

Just give it a little nudge and everyone loses it. And of course, they prove virtually nothing. No one can prove they didn't push it.

36

INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT The group is huddled around the planchette. Jackie clears her throat.

JACKIE Is there anyone here with us?

There's a long pause be the planchette slowly drifts to yes.

Jackie gasps and Damian springs backward. Eli rolls his eyes.

ELI Jackie, I could feel you pushing it.

JACKIE I didn't, I swear.

ELI Sure you didn't. Come on Damian, get back here so Jackie can keep faking us out.

DAMIAN (O.C.) I don't know man. I felt something... weird. Kinda cold when it moved.

36

27.

ELI It's a basement. It's cold.

Damian hesitates before sitting back down at the board.

JACKIE Wow, Eli. Didn't expect you to be goading someone into this.

Eli looks at her pointedly.

ELI Yeah, well, I wanna see what you're gonna try to pull next.

Everyone puts their fingers back on the planchette.

JACKIE Does anyone else wanna ask a question?

ELI Yeah, I've got one. What's it like being dead, loser?

JACKIE Dude, come on.

ELI What? If there is a ghost here, he died, something I've yet to do.

JACKIE Show a little respect. Remember what I said about the Civil War? He could've died in battle or something.

ELI Yes, I'm sure we have a very heroic ghost on our hands with an absolutely tragic death.

37

INT. BASEMENT - DAY

37

Ghost talking head.

GHOST I was kicked in the head. By a horse. Then stumbled off a cliff.

38

INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT

38

28.

JACKIE Fine. Since no one else seems to be taking this seriously, I'll go. We know you're here. What's your name?

The planchette begins moving and Jackie reads the letters aloud.

U...

JACKIE

Everyone else holds their breath.

JACKIE R... M... O... M...

Eli breaks out into a cackle.

39

INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT

39

The ghost shrugs.

GHOST What can I say? I have an appreciation for modern culture.

40

INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT Eli is still cackling. Jackie grabs the planchette and throws it. She points an accusatory finger to Eli. JACKIE You did that, didn't you?

ELI Trust me, it wasn't. I wish I was that funny.

DAMIAN (O.C.) (timidly) Do- Do you want me to stop recording?

JACKIE No, let's keep it running. I want to have it on record that Eli keeps pulling this. Maybe if I show people what I have to put up with I'll get some respect.

DAMIAN (O.C.) Please, don't do this.

40

29.

JACKIE Don't do what? ELI Come on, leave him alone!

Jackie and Eli shout back and forth at each other and Damian quietly cuts the camera.

41

INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT

41

Jackie and Eli sit noticeably far apart on the basement floor. The tension is almost palpable.

JACKIE We'll be staying here overnight to see if anything interesting happens.

Three sleeping bags are set up.

JACKIE We'll be recording audio and video to catch anything supernatural.

Eli rolls his eyes. Jackie pretends not to notice.

42

INT. BASEMENT - EVENING Talking head of Damian. He is very stressed. In this moment it would be easy to mistake him for an anxious chihuahua.

DAMIAN Yeah, I'm not exactly thrilled about sleeping in a basement. Even if there aren't any ghosts, think of what else could be in there.

Eli sneaks into the background and begins approaching Damian as the interview continues.

DAMIAN (CONT'D) Like have you seen all the cobwebs in here? They barely clean this place out. I wouldn't be surprised if there's an entire colony ofEli, now directly behind Damian, clamps his hands on Damian's shoulders.

Spiders!

ELI

42

30.

Damian shrieks and punches Eli in the face. Eli stumbles back while Damian looks shocked at what he's just done.

DAMIAN Dude! Why would you-?

Eli pops back up, hand pressed over his nose. It is bleeding.

43

INT. BASEMENT - EVENING

43

Eli's talking head. He has a tissue stuffed up one of his nostrils.

ELI I deserved it.

44

INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT Jackie fiddles with the camera so it's set up to point down on all three of them in their sleeping bags. Eli eyes the camera.

ELI Not looking forward to going through all that footage.

Jackie steps away from the camera and goes to her sleeping bag.

JACKIE Don't worry. I'm a light sleeper. If anything happens, it'll wake me up.

This is just so we'll have it on camera.

DAMIAN And if we do wake up to a ghost?

Jackie shrugs.

DAMIAN Great. Really thrilled about this.

They all settle into their sleeping bags. The footage speeds up as the night progresses. Damian tosses in his sleeping bag. Eli occasionally shifts. Jackie is out cold.

The footage slows down again as the ghost walks on screen, little more than a silhouette in the dark. His footsteps drag across the basement floor with a sound like clacking chains.

He lets out a groan like cries filtered through broken glass.

44

31.

GHOST Help... me...

He glances to Jackie. She has not moved. He sighs and tries again, louder this time.

GHOST Help... me...

Jackie begins snoring.

He walks over to her and nudges her with his foot. She bats at him, rolls over, and begins snoring again. He walks over to where the camera's set up and knocks it over. It clatters loudly to the ground, but from its spot on the ground it can see Jackie still sleeping peacefully. The ghost throws his hands up.

45

INT. BASEMENT - MORNING Jackie is the first one awake the next morning. She holds the camera and has it pointed at her face. She speaks quietly as Eli and Damian are still asleep behind her. She seems agitated.

JACKIE I didn't wake up last night, but I got a lot of weird feelings. I think something was with us, and I'm gonna look around to see if we can find anything it might have left behind.

She turns the camera around to face the basement. It shudders as she stands up and begins walking around. As she inspects the basement, she seems very on edge. She jumps at every shadow and zooms in on every out of place shape. However, not is out of the ordinary until she reaches the location of their seance from last night. She gasps as she sees the board and candles neatly arranged.

JACKIE (O.C.) Eli! Damian! Get over here!

There's the sound of scrambling from behind her. Eli and Damian, still looking half asleep, shamble to her side.

DAMIAN (groggily) What is it?

Look.

JACKIE (O.C.)

45

32.

Jackie zooms in on the ouija board. The planchette is set over "goodbye." Eli leans down to squint at it.

ELI (unimpressed) That's it?

JACKIE (O.C.) What do you mean that's it? That wasn't there last night. I threw it away, remember?

DAMIAN So something put it there? While we were sleeping?

ELI Yeah. I'm sure something did.

Eli looks at Jackie with a glare.

JACKIE (O.C.) Come on, would I really do that?

ELI Yeah. You would. That's what you've been doing this entire time.

JACKIE (O.C.) I'm not! I wouldn't!

ELI You know, I really don't care if you're trying to fake this. You wanna put on a good show. I get that. But what i don't get is why you keep trying to convince us it's real. You know when they fake it on tv everyone's in on it, right? There isn't just one manipulating the rest into getting a good reaction.

JACKIE (O.C.) I'm not manipulating you guys!

Right? Damian, tell him I'm notDAMIAN Well, actually, IELI Oh no, don't bring him into this.

JACKIE (O.C.)

33.

Then maybe don't try to speak for him!

DAMIAN Guys, it'sELI I'm not speaking for him, I'm trying to tell you that you're being a bad friend.

DAMIAN Guys, please justBoth of them turn on him and snap at the same time.

JACKIE (O.C.) Shut up Damian!

ELI Shut up Damian!

DAMIAN (feebly) Right. Okay.

There's a beat of silence.

DAMIAN Uh, Jackie?

What?

JACKIE (O.C.) (snapping)

Damian flinches at her voice.

DAMIAN (softer) You're still recording.

Oh.

JACKIE (O.C.)

The camera cuts.

45A

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY Talking head of Damian.

DAMIAN

45A

34.

Jackie wanted each of us to do a bit on how the film's going. So far, we've had a bit of trouble, but I think it's okay.

45B

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

45B

Talking head of Eli. It sucks.

45C

ELI

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

45C

Talking head of Jackie It sucks.

45D

JACKIE

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

45D

Talking head of Damian.

DAMIAN I mean, we haven't gotten a ghost on camera or anything, but we've got some evidence.

45E

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

45E

Eli talking head.

ELI Like, everything we've seen so far that everyone keeps calling "proof" is so obviously fake.

45F

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

45F

Jackie talking head.

JACKIE Every single time something weird happens everyone just dismisses it!

Or no one else sees it or hears it or just thinks I made it up!

45G

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

45G

35.

Damian talking head.

DAMIAN (unconvincingly) And it's been nice to work with my friends. I've been having fun with it!

45H

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

45H

Eli talking head.

ELI All these long nights Jackie's been making us pull. If I do see a ghost it'll be because I'm hallucinating from sleep deprivation.

45I

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

45I

Jackie talking head.

JACKIE Every. Single. Time. It goes missing. I think I might be losing it.

45J

INT. BASEMENT - DAY

45J

Talking head of ghost.

GHOST I'm having a great time.

Beat.

GHOST I really haven't had fun like this since... Ever, maybe? Definitely not since I've died. That's been all dust and cobwebs. But this? This is entertainment! My own personal soap opera where I'm the inciting incident. Jackie has been the perfect victim. I really could not have picked a better person.

45K

INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

45K

36.

Jackie comes out of the bedroom and heads toward the bathroom at the end of the hall.

The ghost clears his throat behind her. She jumps and looks around frantically.

GHOST (V.O.) She's on edge, jumps at the tiniest little thing.

Jackie runs back to the bedroom. The ghost stays outside, laughing to himself.

JACKIE (O.S.) Avery, I heard something.

Something's out there.

GHOST (V.O.) And the best part is, they never believe her.

AVERY (O.S.) (groggily) Are you sure it wasn't just a floorboard? Or the wind?

JACKIE (O.S.) It sounded like a voice, I swearAVERY (O.S.) What time is it?

JACKIE (O.S.) I- uh, 2 a.m. I think?

AVERY (O.S.) Then we can deal with it in the morning.

Jackie walks back out of the bedroom. She looks terrified.

She starts back towards the bathroom.

Boo!

GHOST (whispered)

Jackie shrieks and throws her hands up like she's ready to throw a punch.

45L

INT. BASEMENT - DAY Continued talking head of Ghost. He looks slightly concerned but is trying not to let it show.

45L

37.

GHOST It's getting a little intense, but that's a good thing, right? It's not actually getting to her.

47

INT. HALLWAY - DAY The camera peers through a crack in the door to the bedroom.

Jackie is sitting at her desk, tinkering with some sort of device. Avery's trying to talk to her, but Jackie won't even look at her.

AVERY -been working on this for a while, and I think it's really starting to get to youJACKIE I'm fine. It's fine. Everything's just fine.

AVERY Jackie, please, you've gotta take a break from this.

Jackie turns to look at Avery, eyes wild.

JACKIE You don't get it. I'm so close to getting something. I can't stop now.

I need this.

AVERY Maybe you're okay, but think about Eli and Damian. They're getting tired of this. You need to ease off on them.

JACKIE If they had a problem, they could just leave. There's nothing stopping them.

For a moment, no one says anything. The camera person takes a step back and a floorboard creaks. Jackie snaps her attention to the door. She looks furious.

JACKIE Damian, are you seriously recording this?

Jackie gets up and storms toward the camera.

47

38.

DAMIAN (O.C.) I just thought thatJACKIE Stop the camera. Just stopJackie reaches toward the camera and it cuts.

48

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT Jackie has the camera set up on her desk to film her fiddling with some of her ghost hunting equipment. There comes a knock from the door. Jackie doesn't look up from the equipment.

Who is it?

JACKIE

Damian enters.

It's me.

DAMIAN

At the sound of his voice she swivels to face him, still messing with the equipment.

So?

JACKIE

A beat.

JACKIE Are you going to apologize?

DAMIAN For... what exactly?

JACKIE Earlier? When you were filming a very private moment without my knowledge.

DAMIAN I didn't realize- I was just going to ask youJACKIE If you're not here to apologize, what are you here for?

Damian shifts his weight from foot to foot awkwardly.

DAMIAN

48

39.

I was actually going to say I forgive you.

Jackie's hands still. She looks up at him. when she speaks again, it's with a deadly carefulness, like a cat stalking a bird.

JACKIE And why would I need to be forgiven.

Damian takes a deep breath in. It's clear he's rehearsed this moment.

DAMIAN You lashed out at me. I didn't do anything, but you were frustrated and you took it out on me. And I forgive you.

Jackie bows her head, then stands to walk over to Damian. She looks him in the eye.

JACKIE So let me get this straight. You pissed me off, you messed up, and now you're trying to take the moral high ground by forgiving me?

Damian's eyes flick away from her. He turns from her and begins walking to the door. Jackie scoffs and starts back to her desk. But Damian stops and turns back to her.

DAMIAN (softly) I'm done.

Jackie pauses and tenses.

What?

JACKIE

DAMIAN I said I'm done.

They both look surprised at what he's just said. Jackie seethes, but Damian stands straighter.

DAMIAN (gaining confidence) I'm done. With the way you guys don't listen to me. They way you snap at me whenever something goes wrong. The way you treat me. I'm done. I'm leaving.

40.

He slams the door behind him. Jackie sinks into her chair and puts her head in her hands. She looks back to the camera and stops recording.

49

INT. KITCHEN - EVENING The ghost's hand moves away from the lens as he adjusts the camera. He puts a finger up to his lips and smirks before he turns the camera around to face Jackie and Eli at the kitchen table. Jackie is leaning up against a wall. She looks exhausted.

ELI So Damian just left?

Jackie, head in her hands, nods.

ELI Did he say why?

Jackie shakes her head.

JACKIE Something about the stress getting to him. You know how he is.

ELI Yeah. Sure. Stress.

There's silence for a while.

ELI So what does this mean for the film?

JACKIE We keep going. We can handle the camera ourselves. It's not like there's much to it.

She rubs her face before pulling her hands away and sticking them firmly to her sides.

JACKIE (CONT'D) We didn't really need him anyway.

We'll be fine without him. It'll be fine.

ELI Are you sure? I don't know a whole lot about cameras.

JACKIE It's. Fine.

49

41.

Jackie storms out of the room. Eli sighs and is about to leave before Avery comes in.

ELI You just missed her.

AVERY I'm not looking for Jackie, actually.

She sits down at the table.

AVERY I wanted to talk to you. About her.

ELI You're her girlfriend aren't you?

Shouldn't you be the resident Jackie expert.

AVERY That's the thing. Ever since she started this film, she's gotten more closed off. I've tried to talk to her about it, but she just pushes me away. I'm worried about her.

ELI It's not her you should be worried about.

A beat.

ELI So what really happened with Damian?

Avery doesn't respond.

ELI I'll try to see if I can talk to her.

Thank you.

50

AVERY

INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT Jackie is knelt in the hallway, rummaging through some of her equipment.

JACKIE We haven't had any luck so far, but we're not ready to give up.

50

42.

ELI (O.C.) I think you mean you aren't ready to give up.

Jackie ignores him.

JACKIE Hallways represent passage and movement. If a ghost has unfinished business and can't move on, it may seek out a place like this for a more literal passage.

Eli scoffs from behind the camera. Jackie, once again, ignores this, and continues looking through the equipment.

JACKIE (CONT'D) Ghosts like these are more likely to reach out to the living indirect ways. So tonight we'll be using this.

She pulls out a small radio.

JACKIE An EVP radio.

She turns it out and a loud static sound starts playing, with snips of music and voices every few seconds.

JACKIE This device rapidly changes radio channels. Spirits can manipulate those radio waves to deliver messages.

They listen to the box for a little while. A word or two will occasionally slip through, but nothing that makes any sense.

It may not be paranormal, but it is unnerving.

JACKIE We can try asking it some questions.

It may not be sure what to say.

Jackie clears her throat and addresses the radio. She speaks clearly and carefully, as though talking to a child.

JACKIE Is there anyone here with us?

She pauses to see if there's any change in the radio's behavior. There is none. She tries again.

JACKIE

43.

What is your name?

Still, there is no response.

JACKIE Eli, do you want to ask a question.

ELI (O.C.) Uh, yeah, actually.

Eli sets the camera down so both of them are visible. He sits down next to Jackie. She looks confused.

ELI I wanted to ask you about some stuff.

JACKIE Eli, unless this is about the ghostELI Just hear me out. Please.

Jackie frowns but lets him continue.

ELI It's been a long couple of weeks. I know that. You've been stressed about this. I've been stressed. But you keeping lashing out. You act like this film is the most important thing that's ever happened to you.

You've been acting like it's more important than us. And I don't think I want to put up with it anymore.

Jackie looks, for lack of a better word, pissed.

JACKIE (softly) So are you leaving too?

ELI I don't know. I'm hoping you can lay off for a minute but based off what you've been doing lately, I don't think that's likely.

Jackie snorts.

JACKIE That's rich coming from you.

Eli bristles.

44.

ELI What's that supposed to mean?

JACKIE We both know you blame me for Damian. Don't act all sweet and innocent abut it. You blame me. You think it was all my fault. And maybe it was. But you know what? It wasn't just me. You were there too. You were there making fun of him just as much as me. You can say it's my fault, but that means it's your fault too.

ELI I- you can'tEli breaks off. His hands clench and unclench at his sides.

ELI (defeatedly, growing more resolute) You're right. Oh god, you're right.

I need to go.

He makes for the door but Jackie interrupts him.

JACKIE Hey! We still have a shoot planned for tonight. I need you on camera.

Eli turns back to her.

ELI I can't do that. I need to fix this.

That's more important right now.

He's about to leave when Jackie mutters under her breath.

JACKIE I should've known better that to bring you and Damian into this.

Eli freezes.

ELI What did you just say?

A beat. When Jackie speaks again, her intensity builds and crescendos in shouting.

JACKIE

45.

I said that I never should've gotten you involved with this. Cause you two never cared about this did you?

Never took it seriously like I did.

Never put in any effort like I did.

You two just thought it was an excuse to mess around. You've been sabotaging me from the start. You never cared about my film because you never cared about me! You never cared about anything but yourselves!

Her words sink in. Both of them look shocked at what she just said. For a second Jackie looks like she might apologize, but Eli interrupts.

Say what selfish. say that he's not

ELI you want about me. Call me I don't care. Just don't about Damian. Not while here to defend himself.

Any apology Jackie had is gone now. She steels her resolve.

JACKIE I don't want you here anymore.

You're ruining everything. Get out.

Eli looks shocked and confused at this.

ELI Jackie, you don't mean that.

JACKIE Yes, I do. Get. Out. Eli blinks at her.

JACKIE (shouting) Get out!

Eli walks out wordlessly. Once he's gone, Jackie breaks down crying.

51

INT. BASEMENT - DAY The ghost is in front of the camera.

GHOST You can go too far with a haunting.

Humans can be so delicate sometimes.

You stand in a couple of hallways,

51

46.

throw a few knives in their direction, stand over their beds in the middle of the night and whisper a prophecy of their death like, once or twice, and it's all "Oh no, I'm going insane! I'm cutting off all my friends and family and never going outside again!" Psh. Dramatic much?

52

INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT The camera is set on the counter, pointed at Jackie. Her hair is slightly disheveled and she looks tired. She doesn't even bother looking up at the camera when she talks.

JACKIE Today, we'll be investigating the kitchen. There's probably some reason we might find a ghost here. I don't know. It's one of the last places we haven't checked. And I know there's something here, even though everyone's telling me there isn't. And I just really need something to show them so they can know I'm going crazy.

She finally looks at the camera.

JACKIE I'm not going crazy, right? Like, there's all this stuff happening, but it only seems to be happening to me. So what it's all my...

She trails off and turns her attention back to the equipment.

JACKIE Right. I'm supposed to be ghost hunting. Um, I've shown you guys all the equipment I have, so we'll just kinda being going through everything.

A montage of clips of Jackie inspecting the kitchen. She walks around with the temperature gun, then the EMF reader.

She is very thorough in her inspection, but she can't find even the slightest thing out of place. She opens cabinets and roots around through them, as if any of them will give her answers or peace. None of them do. She takes out the EVP radio and sits on the ground while it skips through channels.

GHOST (V.O.)

52

47.

But I don't think I've gone too far with this one. Sure, she's lost a couple of friends, but isn't that just part of life? You meet people, you lose them, maybe you find them again, but mostly you don't. People are quick. Fleeting. They never seem to get that. Always think everything's going to last forever.

But it doesn't. Never does. And sometimes, you end it yourself.

Jackie stares down at the radio with a look of defeat. She flips it off and stands. She drags her feet to the camera and turns it off.

53

INT. BEDROOM - EVENING Jackie is in her room, curled up on her bed. She's scrolling through her phone with a passive expression. The lights are off, and the only source of light is from the screen of her phone. The ghost stands in the corner of her room, and grins at the camera. He starts to take a step forward before the lights turn on.

Avery walks into the room to stand across from Jackie.

AVERY We need to talk.

Jackie doesn't look up from her phone, nor does her expression change.

JACKIE Funny. That's just what Eli said before he left.

Avery sighs.

JACKIE That's what this is about, isn't it?

You're leaving me too?

AVERY I'm not leaving, I'm justAt this, Jackie looks hurt. Not angry, just hurt.

JACKIE I knew it. Just like the rest of them.

AVERY

53

48.

I'm just going to stay with my sister for a few days. Maybe a week.

I don't know. However long you need to cool off.

JACKIE (distantly) Cool off.

Avery sits down next to Jackie and places a hand on her shoulder.

AVERY Listen, Jackie, I love, it's just that- well, you have a lot going on right now. And I want to be able to help you through it, but you keep pushing me away. I thought Eli could get through to you, but you did the same to him. I think it's best that you have some time to yourself to sort this out.

Avery gets up and begins to leave. Before she's out the door, she looks over her shoulder at Jackie.

AVERY I'll be here when you're ready.

She leaves.

The ghost is still standing in the corner, looking awkwardly into the camera.

54

INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT

54

You know the drill, ghost in front of the camera, etc.

GHOST Sometimes, I don't even have to do anything! I'm just that good.

The ghost laughs uncomfortably, which then turns into a grimace and he turns the camera off.

55

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT With no one left to hold it, the camera sits on Jackie's desk. The lights are dim. The bed has been moved to the corner of the room. Its blankets are askew. Books have been thrown off their shelves and lie on the ground. Papers litter the floor. Jackie stands in the middle of the room, head

55

49.

bowed, shoulders tensed. When she speaks, she does not look up.

JACKIE I know you're here. I know what you've been doing to me. And I'm sick of it. I'm done playing your games.

She looks up. Her eyes are red and irritated. She looks like she hasn't slept in a week. She addresses the whole of the room, shouting now.

JACKIE You hear that? I'm done!

CUT TO: 56

INT. BASEMENT - DAY

56

The ghost sits rather uncomfortably in front of the camera.

There's a long pause before he says anything.

GHOST So it seems that I may have gone a little far.

57

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT JACKIE (CONT'D) I'm giving you one last chance! Show yourself, or we're done here.

Jackie stands seething for a moment. The lights begin to flicker. She does not flinch.

JACKIE That's not enough. I need proof. I need to show them you're real.

The lights flicker faster. A wind picks up inside the room and tosses the paper on the ground. Her hair is whipped by the wind. She grits her teeth. She shouts against the wind.

JACKIE They're all gone. Damian, Eli, Avery. They left and it's all your fault. You did that. It's all your fault.

She stops for a second. All the anger is gone from her face, replaced by epiphany.

57

50.

JACKIE (softly) They're gone. They left me.

The wind dies down and the lights stop flickering. A loud static buzzes and the ghost appears before Jackie. She looks up at him. Words form on her lips and fall away just as quickly. The ghost stares down at her, unblinking. His eyes are sharp and cold. Before she can find her words, the ghost vanishes again, and she is left in the quiet mess of her room.

Shit.

58

JACKIE (softly)

INT. BASEMENT - DAY Jackie sits in front of the camera. Her head is in her hands.

JACKIE So I - uh - looked back at the footage - all of it, and uh.

She laughs from exhaustion, at the world and at herself.

JACKIE You can come out now. I know you like to hang out in here.

The ghost appears behind her and clears his throat. Jackie jumps.

JACKIE Jeez, man, you can't just do that.

GHOST Apologies. So... what would you like to speak with me about.

Jackie shakes her head.

JACKIE I don't really know. Part of me didn't even think you were real.

GHOST Even after your confrontation?

JACKIE It's been a really long couple of weeks man. I'm half convinced I'm hallucinating this right now.

58

51.

GHOST All this time spent hunting a ghost and you didn't even know what you would do if you caught one.

JACKIE Well, I was originally planning on posting this all online. You know, expose you to the world. But I don't think you'd be chill with that.

GHOST I would, indeed, not be particularly "chill" with it. It would take the suspense away from the hauntings if everyone knew I was here.

JACKIE So you're gonna keep doing those?

The ghost seems slightly sad at this question.

GHOST After you're gone, of course.

There's not much else to do as a ghost but to mess with mortals. In the meantime, though, I will surely find a way to occupy my time.

JACKIE Well, if you want I can act scared when you show up in the corner of my room at night.

The ghost smiles politely.

GHOST You were quite an entertaining haunt.

His smile fades and there is a beat of silence.

GHOST Is there anything else you would like to know?

Jackie thinks for a minute.

JACKIE Yeah, I guess. Why did you choose me?

The ghost looks at her quizzically.

52.

JACKIE I mean, me and Avery both live here.

And Eli and Damian were here all the time for the film. It kinda felt like you were going after me in particular. Why not one of them?

The ghost ponders this for a minute, then leans forward to her.

GHOST At first, when you and Avery first moved in, I was seeing who responded. Who would take the bait and be a bit of fun to go after. And then Eli and Damian came along and the four of you all seemed to get along so well. I felt...

His brow furrows.

GHOST It made me feel lonely, I think. I haven't had friends like that since... well, I can't remember much of before I died. Maybe I never had that.

The ghost pauses for a moment. He chooses his next words slowly and carefully.

GHOST I think I wanted something like that for myself. I wanted what you had.

And then, you threw it all away.

JACKIE (defensively) I didn'tThe ghost stops her with a pointed look.

GHOST You had what I could only dream of, and you wasted it. You drove them away.

There's an uncomfortable pause.

JACKIE I did, didn't I? Another pause.

53.

JACKIE I drove them all away. They're gone and it's all because of me, isn't it?

Jackie begins crying. The ghost tries to pat her on the shoulder, but his hand passes through her.

JACKIE I had a girlfriend who loved me, friends who supported me, and they're gone now and it's all my fault.

GHOST I'm not going to tell you that it isn't. It is your fault.

Jackie sobs harder.

JACKIE You're really bad at this, you know?

GHOST What I'm saying is that it is your fault, but that it doesn't define you. It's something you did, not who you are.

JACKIE Good to know I do terrible things.

GHOST But you don't have to. You can move past this. Learn from your mistakes.

Move on.

Jackie stares down at her hands. She starts laughing incredulously.

JACKIE You really think I can do that?

GHOST I've been around for a while. If I've learned anything, it's that humanity is unpredictable. They always find a way to surprise you, don't you think?

Jackie wipes her nose with the back of her hand and lets out a dry laugh.

JACKIE

54.

Yeah. Yeah I guess so.

59

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY Jackie is sitting on the couch working on her laptop. The ghost appears behind her. He tries tapping her on the shoulder, but his hand passes through her and she does not seem to notice it. He tries again, still to the same results.

He taps his foot impatiently for a moment, then knocks a lamp off a nearby table. Jackie jumps as it crashes to the ground.

She turns around to look at the ghost.

JACKIE Geez dude, you can't just do that!

The ghost shrugs noncommittally.

GHOST Sorry. Bad habit.

JACKIE You could've just - I don't know said my name??

GHOST Oh. Yeah. Could have.

Jackies glances over to the camera.

JACKIE Are you recording this?

GHOST Yeah. Don't worry about. It's just for me. What are you working on?

Jackie tilts her computer to show him. On the screen is some of the footage from her film.

JACKIE I've just been going through some of the footage. I might not've gotten quite what I wanted from filming, but maybe I can still make something from it. Like... maybe it wasn't all for nothing, you know?

The ghost nods. He walks through the back of the couch and plops down on to it next to her.

GHOST Can I ask you something?

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55.

Jackie closes her laptop and turns to him.

Shoot.

JACKIE

The ghost twiddles his thumbs for a minute, then settles.

GHOST What did you think of my interviews?

Jackie almost laughs, but holds it in when she sees he's serious. He looks to her earnestly.

JACKIE Your interviews? Like the ones you filmed in my basement?

GHOST And, you know, the rest of my footage.

Jackie re-opens her laptop and begins looking through footage with the ghost. She starts with his first talking head.

JACKIE For someone who died long before this technology even existed, you handle it pretty well.

The ghost nods, pleased with himself. Jackie begins pointing to the screen.

JACKIE You're pretty well on the rule of thirds here, so you've already got that down. I don't even know if rule of thirds was a thing when you were alive, so that's pretty cool. The lighting could use some work, but I mean, it is a basement so there's not a whole lot of good natural light. I'd say you've got a promising start.

GHOST You really think so?

JACKIE Yeah dude. You could totally do this.

She loses her momentum in a brief pause.

JACKIE

56.

(sheepishly) It just kinda sucks that we don't have a crew anymore. Kinda messed that one up for you.

GHOST Don't worry. I'm sure there's something we can figure out.

60

INT. NEW LIVING ROOM - DAY The camera shakes like it's just being turned on and picked up. It focuses on Eli sitting at a table in a different living room, presumably in his own place. He seems relaxed, far more relaxed than when he left Jackie's project. The camera zooms in on him. He looks up at the sound.

ELI What are you doing with that thing?

DAMIAN (O.C.) I dunno. The whole thing with Jackie was pretty bad, but I had some fun being behind a camera. Thought I might mess around with filming a bit more.

Eli leans forward and rests his head on his chin.

ELI Filming anything in particular?

DAMIAN (O.C.) Not yet. Just kinda testing it out for now.

A knock comes from off screen. The camera swivels to face a door.

ELI Must be Avery.

He turns to the door and calls out.

ELI You can come in! It's unlocked.

Avery opens the door and greets them. She hugs Eli. Damian sets the camera down for a hug of his own.

AVERY It's nice to see you guys.

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57.

She nods to the camera now back in Damian's hands.

AVERY That's not for...?

DAMIAN (O.C.) Nah, just my own thing.

She nods.

AVERY That's good. That's good. So what have you guys been up to?

ELI Mainly just trying to recover from your girlfriend.

He catches himself on the word "girlfriend" and Avery cringes.

ELI Are you guys still, you know?

Avery sighs and leans against the table.

AVERY I don't know. It's complicated. I still love her, it's just thatShe struggles for the words.

ELI She can be a lot sometimes.

Avery nods.

AVERY I just hope I'm not leaving her when she needs me.

ELI You don't have to be responsible for her. Sometimes she's gotta figure it out on her own.

AVERY Thanks. And I'm sorry for how she acted.

ELI It's okay. I think we all learned something from it.

58.

He looks to Damian behind the camera.

A beat.

Avery's phone buzzes. She pulls it out of her pocket and checks it. When she reads it, she looks surprised.

DAMIAN (O.C.) What is it?

Avery looks up from her phone, then to each of them.

AVERY It's Jackie.

61

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY Eli, Damian, and Avery are gathered on the couch. Eli looks irritated, Damian anxious, and Avery just looks exhausted.

None of them want to be there. Jackie is behind the camera, filming them.

JACKIE (O.C.) I wanted to thank you guys for coming over. I don't think I really deserve that from you.

Eli eyes her carefully, but doesn't say anything. Damian looks away. Avery does not change.

JACKIE (O.C.) First, I did want to apologize. I...

I got carried away. I lashed out. I realize that now. And I wanted to make it up to you guys. Your work wasn't for nothing.

The ghost appears behind the couch and gives a polite wave.

Hello.

GHOST

All three of them jump and turn to look at him.

DAMIAN Is that... That's not a...

GHOST A ghost? Why yes, I do just so happen to be.

Damian looks like he's about to faint.

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59.

JACKIE (O.C.) This is the ghost that we've been hunting. He, uh, made a couple of appearances in our footage.

GHOST I did a couple of interviews of my own. Jackie said they're quite good.

AVERY Wait, so you guys had footage of an actual ghost just sitting on your camera, but you never knew? Did you not check it later?

Oh, I did.

ELI

JACKIE (O.C.) Wasn't that Damian's job?

DAMIAN I was scared, okay?

ELI Yeah, I saw all of the ghost's clips. I just figured Jackie was faking it for the documentary.

JACKIE (O.C.) (indignant) Why would I do that?

ELI Do you remember half the things you did for the film?

JACKIE (O.C.) Yeah, that's a fair point.

DAMIAN Are we just all skipping over the fact that there's a ghost in the room with us? Like that's not weird.

ELI Hey, I'm still not convinced.

Eli reaches his hand out to touch the ghost. It passes right through him.

ELI (nonchalantly) Ok now I'm convinced.

60.

AVERY It feels weird to keep calling you "ghost." Do you have a name?

The ghost shrugs.

GHOST It has been quite some time. I don't remember it.

DAMIAN Well, we should give you one. How about William?

The ghost grimaces.

GHOST No thank you. I was killed by a William.

Eli frowns.

ELI I thought you were killed by a horse.

GHOST Yes. A horse named William. How about Walter?

AVERY Uh, sure, I guess. If that's what you want.

DAMIAN So, really just glossing over this whole ghost thing? Even you Eli? ELI Yeah pretty much.

Damian is in immense psychological pain as the rest of the group moves on.

JACKIE (O.C.) So if we're over all thatDAMIAN Which we are most certainly notJACKIE (O.C.)

61.

-I wanted to talk to you guys for a minute.

She sets the camera down on the table and joins them by the couch.

JACKIE So, our film is technically a success. I mean, we did catch a ghost.

GHOST "Caught" is not quite how I would describe it.

ELI And don't think that this makes everything better. You were still pretty awful.

Jackie winces.

JACKIE Yeah. Yeah, I know. But I'm hoping you guys'll give this another chance.

ELI Another ghost hunt? Walter, are you okay with that?

The ghost shrugs.

GHOST It could be quite amusing.

AVERY Wait, are you saying you'd want to help with a ghost hunt.

GHOST Why not? Who better to hunt a ghost than a ghost?

JACKIE So you guys are up for another one?

The group considers it for a moment. Avery leans closer to Jackie and nudges her with her foot.

AVERY I think I'd like to go along this time if you decide to do it again.

62.

Jackie beams at her before turning to her friends.

JACKIE (Hesitantly) Damian? Eli? Damian appears as though he has progressed through multiple stages of grief in the past several minutes or so, but has yet to reach acceptance.

DAMIAN I guess so. What else am I gonna do?

Go home and actually cope with this?

Apparently satisfied with this answer, Jackie looks expectantly to Eli. ELI Then I'll be there.

Jackie hugs him.

ELI But, some things are gonna have to change from last time.

Jackie pulls away and nods in understanding. She wipes a tear from her eye.

JACKIE I don't think I should be the director this time. You need someone better.

Everyone looks around at the rest, judging who would work well as a replacement. Eventually, eyes fall on the ghost.

What? Me?

GHOST

JACKIE You did get some pretty good footage.

The ghost nods.

GHOST Alright. Let's do this. And I think I might know a good place to start.

62

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

62

63.

The crew walks down the street. In the background, a massive house sits atop a hill. The outside of the house was once dark, but time has worn the paint away. Tiles are missing from the roof and ivy climbs up its sides.

The ghost takes the lead of the group, followed by Eli, then Jackie and Avery, then Damian at the back behind the camera.

The ghost turns around to address the camera.

GHOST Lakefield Manor. Rumored to be about two hundred years old. Teeming with phantoms and spirits. I would know a thing or two about that.

63

INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING

63

Talking head of the ghost.

GHOST This place is actually haunted by one of my fellow soldiers, Elliot.

He was actually on the horse that kicked me. I do not like him.

He grins mischievously.

GHOST It will be fun to pay him a visit after all these years 64

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

64

GHOST My name is Walter. I've been a ghost for over 200 years. With me is Eli. Eli nods at the camera when his name is mentioned.

65

INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING Talking head of Eli. ELI They thought they'd have the hardest time getting me back, but I was pretty easily persuaded.

He leans back against the couch, arms crossed, looking very satisfied with himself.

65

64.

66

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

66

GHOST Our cameraman, Damian.

Damian turns the camera around and waves at it. He is smiling.

DAMIAN Hello! I'll mostly be behind the camera, so you won't be seeing a whole lot of me, but I'll always be here.

67

INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING

67

Talking head of Damian.

DAMIAN I was a little hesitant to come back at first, but they managed to convince me.

Eli runs up behind him and hugs him from behind the couch.

ELI Wouldn't do this without you.

Damian smiles and places a hand on Eli's arm.

68

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

68

GHOST Avery is newer to the crew, but she's being helped along by her girlfriend and tech master, Jackie.

Jackie and Avery wave to the camera.

69

INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING Talking head of Jackie and Avery.

JACKIE Stepping down from my role as director has been a big change, but I think it's one we all needed. I think this suits me better. There's a lot less pressure.

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65.

AVERY And you get to spend more time with me.

Avery leans her head on Jackie's shoulder. Jackie kisses her forehead.

JACKIE Yeah, I do.

70

EXT. STREET - NIGHT The ghost smiles back at them before turning back to the camera.

GHOST Together, we'll be investigating the hauntings of Lakefield Manor. This is: Hunting With Ghosts.

70